The rites of Spring and a Magickal Land called Beltania

On Thursday of this week, my beloved husband and I rolled into the Land called Beltania.  My community of Living Earth and the Beltania staff had worked long and hard, tirelessly, well maybe not tirelessly!, to put on this year's Beltania festival, located in Florence, CO.

We left Denver in the pouring rain.  As is always the case, especially in Colorado, one cannot count on sunny, dry, weather simply because its the month of May.  Be that as it is may, we arrived at the land of Beltania, in the pouring rain.

The road was muddy and slick.  There was simply no good way to make it up the road, to camp.  So we pulled over, and settled in to our spot for the night.  This year, we took our adventure to a new level and rented an RV.  That itself was an adventure and much fodder for another story!

Even in the rain and mud, it was fantastic to be out of the city.  The smell of forest and clean air, is a ritual within itself.  We made it up to the festival grounds, checked in and hugged and greeted our friends.  Since the weather, was insistent upon rain, all festivities and rituals had to be delayed to the next day.  But not to worry, as Pagans we embrace the power of Mother Nature, and go with her flow.
We returned to roadside campsite, set up our fire pit, built a fire, and had a wonderful night, with all the travelers who were making their way up and down the road!

The next morning, we awoke to clear skies and deer silently padding through the forest!  Oh Blessed Be!  Sunshine and ritual!  Yay, Yay, Yay!

On this morning, which was Friday, I was tasked to be the element of Air in the Opening Ritual.  How blessedly beautiful it was to gather with everyone and welcome in Beltania!  The Circle was enormous and everyone radiated the Spirit of the Mother and Father of the Earth, Time and Spirit!  The heavens opened to us and we circled and sang, danced and welcomed in the rites of May.

Once the Opening Ritual was done, I moved to my next task, which was to be Mother Nature and welcome in the new May Queen!  Myself and Father Time thanked the 2013 May Queen and Green Man for the service and crowned the new May Queen and Green Man for 2013-2014.  It was truly a joyful experience.

Now that my tasks were done, we were free to simply be and wander around and participate in the festival activities.  We had a glorious time listening to the musical performers, taking workshops and dancing around the hottest fire into the wee hours of the night.

The next day, which was Saturday we danced and weaved one of the most beautiful May Poles I've ever seen.  What a thrill it was to watch the May Queen be hoisted upon the May Pole and the men carry her through the grounds.  Then with everyone chanting and yelling the men successfully inserted the pole into the fertile ground of Mother Earth.  We then danced and weaved the most beautiful bright ribbons around and around the May Pole.  Spectacular.  Simply joyful and wonderful.

We met so many wonderful new people for whom this was their first Pagan festival or as a solitary they had made the decision to come out and be with other Pagans on the mountain.

I can't thank enough all the People who work so hard to put on a safe, fun, Spiritually rich, diverse, open, welcoming, event for people of all paths, faiths, genders and ages.  We are truly blessed to be a part of the Living Earth Community.

Blessed Be,
Priestess Najah